Professor Henry Joe, age 94, of Monmouth, Professor Emeritus at Knox College passed away at 5:25 pm on Saturday April 2, 2022, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois. Henry was born on July 2, 1927, in Bingham, Utah and is the son of Young-ho and Sung Kum Joe. He grew up in Butte, Montana, and completed his higher education at the University of Montana in Missoula. There he studied Fine Arts under the mentorship of Rudy Autio, graduating with a BA, MA, and an MFA, at the time the terminal degree in his chosen field. He also did graduate work at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Henry began his teaching career in ceramics, sculpture, and Asian Art History at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois in 1967. He also served as Chairman of the Art Department until his retirement in 1995 as Professor Emeritus. Locally, Henry supported the Buchanan Center for the Arts and its featured artists. He loved giving talks at Buchanan Center for the Arts.
Henry enjoyed the game of tennis and frequently played with Ralph Whiteman, Vijay Arora, and Chainaronk Limonon. In his younger years, he enjoyed fly fishing in Montana and then later pheasant hunting in Minnesota. In his retirement, he enjoyed a daily cup of coffee with his friends at the local McDonald’s in Monmouth, as they discussed and solved the world’s problems! He also grilled a mean steak for his family when they visited.
Henry is survived by his wife, Patricia Joe of Monmouth, Illinois and two sons, Wesley Joe and spouse Niharika of Arlington, Virginia and Jonathan Joe and partner Monica of Portland, Oregon. He also has two grandsons, Jakob and Alexander, one sister, Sarah McEleney and husband Robert of Puyallup, Washington, and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in his death by his parents and two brothers, Jim and Phil.
Per his wish, Henry was accorded cremation. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Turnbull Funeral Homes on Thursday, June 30 at 11:00 a.m. a will be available live streamed and on his website of Turnbull Funeral Home. No visitation hours are currently planned, but a memorial fund is being for Western Illinois Animal Rescue. To leave a remembrance or for more information please visit www.turnbullfuneralhomes.com
